Christopher Nolan continues to redefine box office expectations, as his latest cinematic endeavor, "The Odyssey," has claimed a monumental record. The film, which hit theaters in July, has maintained remarkable global demand, particularly for its IMAX and premium format screenings. Its sustained success recently propelled it past a titan of modern blockbusters: "Jurassic World."

After adding $34.4 million globally last weekend (including $7.4 million domestically), "The Odyssey" reached a worldwide total of $1.68 billion. This figure now places it above "Jurassic World," which earned $1.67 billion during its theatrical run in 2015. For 11 years, Colin Trevorrow's dinosaur revival held the title of Universal's highest-grossing film. Nolan's epic has not only eclipsed that record but also previously surpassed "Deadpool & Wolverine" to become the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever, and outpaced Marvel's 2012 juggernaut, "The Avengers."

What makes this feat particularly impressive is that "The Odyssey" is a three-hour, R-rated, non-franchise film. Its towering success challenges much of the conventional Hollywood studio wisdom that has prioritized established intellectual properties for the past two decades. This signals a potential shift in audience appetite, with films like "Obsession" and "Project Hail Mary" also demonstrating a hunger for original storytelling.

While "The Odyssey" now holds Universal's top spot, "Jurassic World" remains a significant cultural touchstone. Upon its release, it set records for the biggest opening weekend ($208.8 million domestically) and was the fastest movie to reach $1 billion globally, driven by a powerful wave of multi-generational nostalgia. It also retains a unique box office record as the biggest theatrical opening for a non-Marvel, non-"Star Wars" film. Its success spawned a lucrative franchise, including "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" ($1.3 billion), "Jurassic World Dominion" ($1 billion), and "Jurassic World Rebirth" ($869.1 million), solidifying Chris Pratt's star status.

Nolan's partnership with Universal Pictures has proven incredibly fruitful since his departure from Warner Bros. after the release of "Tenet." Their first collaboration, "Oppenheimer," earned an astounding $977.4 million globally and secured a Best Picture Oscar. Universal's investment of an incredibly large $250 million production budget for "The Odyssey" has clearly paid off. Now sitting at number 12 on the all-time global charts, "The Odyssey" is expected to soon pass "Inside Out 2" ($1.698 billion), with a potential run at the top 10 if it can surpass "Zootopia 2" ($1.86 billion). Regardless of its final standing, "The Odyssey" has cemented its place in cinema history.